Casimero beats Guevare to retain title

ABS-CBN News

MANILA, Philippines – Filipino boxer Johnriel Casimero retained his International Boxing Federation (IBF) light flyweight title with a split-decision victory over Mexican boxer Pedro Guevara in his hometown of Mazatlan, Mexico on Saturday (Sunday in Manila).

According to a Boxing Scene report, Casimero won with scores of 114-113, 116-111, and 113-114. It was Guevara’s first loss against 18 victories in his career.

Casimero was the more aggressive boxer early in the bout, knocking down Guevara in the first round. But the knockdown seemingly fired up Guevara, who took the middle rounds by using his height and reach advantage.

Guevara was knocked down again in the sixth round and twice in the 10th, although all three instances were ruled as slips.

Boxing Scene reported that although Guevara moved constantly and looked as if he was more active, it was Casimero who was dictating the pace of the fight through his excellent ring-generalship and defense.

Casimero also used effective counter-punching to negate Guevara’s activity.

It was Casimero’s first defense of the title that was awarded to him when erstwhile champion Ulises Solis was unable to make a mandatory defense by the deadline set by the IBF.

Casimero won the interim title against Luis Lazarte earlier this year in Argentina, though that bout is now more known because of the riot that followed the Filipino’s victory.

Lazarte’s supporters threw chairs and other debris into the ring while Casimero and his team hid under the ring.

This time, there was no such scenario. Boxing Scene reported that the Mexican crowd was classy enough to accept their hometown fighter’s loss.